Suction cleaner



-s1` f.24,1935. H BWHITE v 2,015,111

SUGTION CLEANER Filed Aug. 3, 1933 INVENTOR "cf Har/y W/n'fe ATTORNEY vPatented jfsleptr- U-lSu'rizDf| STATES PATENT oFFc- `A i sUc'rIoNCLEANER Harry zwhite; Canton, lOhio, assigner to4 The d Hoover Company,ANorth Canton, Ohio, a coi'-` A poration of Ohio 4Application August 3,1933, Serial No. 68.3,419 I 11 olainie. (on. 15-1333) lIt is'an objectof the present invention' to pro.-v vide a new and improved adjustablebrush construction in a rotary agitator for a suction y cleaner. -It isanother object to provide-in a rotary agitator for a suction cleaner, a'reversible brush which is designed to yco-operate with' its.

seat in the agitator body `so that its height above 15 the agitatorsurfaceis changed when the brush is .reversed en'd for end. Stillanother object is the provision. in' a rotary agitator for a suctioncleanenof a screw-held brush which extendsV to dierent heightsy abovethe surface v'of the agi` 'tator ywhen the brush' is. reversed end .forend,

Theseand other more specific objects will appear upon reading the'`following specification and claims and upon considering in connectiontherev with .the'attachedv drawing to which'they relate. ,25 4 In thedrawing, in which a preferred embodiment ofthe invention is disclosed:

Figure 1 is aside view,.partly in section, o fa modern suctioncleanerwith the agitator con- E. sti-acted in accordance with thepresent invention --embodied therein; 1 v l Figure 2 'isa'sideelevation, partly insection, .of the agitator constructed.y inaccordance vwith the present invention with the brushes positlonedin-the low positions;

Figure 3 is a section through one of the brush seats in the agitatorwith the brush positioned in the high position; a

Figure 4 is a partial section through the agil tator looking in thedirection ofthe arrows upon.

Figure 3; Figure 6 is a view in perspective of a brushV ent inventionremoved from' the agitator. l

'fhe modern suction cleaner incorporates both suction and positivebeating' means. The posie Ative beating means are normally provided-inthe a rigid surfacecontacting element andaremovable brush o r brushes.The rigid element is not affected bywear in its contact with a surfacecovering and so requires' no adjust-ment.- 4.The

- brush elements. however, wear down so that they require adjustment.:rule brush elements de element constructed in accordance with thepresform of a rotaryagitator which includes both not extend as farradially as the .rigid beating `elements', they -fail to accomplishtheirfunction.

In the present invention anew brush element isprovided which co-operatesin a new and novel manner with' its: seat in thel agitator body so 5thatafter the brush has been used inthe agitator) for'a time andthejlengthofthe bristles has been decreased through wear, it is possible4to reverse' the brush end for end iny its-'seat in the agitatorresulting in a greater eztension ofv the 10- brush bristles beyond thesaid surface through;

positioning the back Voi! thebrush higherin its i' seat.

Referring again to the drawing a modern suction cleaner is showncomprising a nozzle, I 15 which is interiorlyconnected to the fanchamber 2. AA rotaryfan l3, drivenby -an'unshown motor within the motorc asing, creates a're'- l :duced pressure within the @fanchamber-whichyfunctions to draw air between thealips'i ands-6 20 ntofthe.nozzle I, through, the l/fanfichamben-l and exhaust it ,through fthe'exhaustj.outlet;` 1 into a detachable dust bag 8., The :cleanerisflinbyably supported upon front andrear wheelsl and, I0= respectively,there being provided a pivoted handle, I I b'y `whichthe-operatorumay-propel themachine. `Within the nozzle -i andflwsitioned;=so..as... to contact the surface `covering;1. between thelips Sand Eis-positionedafrotarmagitator .indicated-"generally by 4referencecharacter Y i2. 30 Agitator.- Il comprises an' elongatedpylindrical bodyI3 which isi provided substantially centrally ofits-length-witha reduced4 portion I4 which functions as a pulley toreceive thexdrivingbeltv AI5connected tothe pulley I6 at .the Vlower end 35 ofd the;y driving--motor' shaft. End cups |1, "n

which `are mounted upon the longitudinally ,ex-

- v .tending through supporting lshaft-i9 which ex`40 FigureA 5 is 'a'section upon theline `5---5 of tends l completely through :thecylindricalv body.-

each seats a plate member 2li which is anged at its periphery-andoverlies the endof the body I3 to. function las a threadA guard andprevent 45 -theaccumulation of foreign matter about the 'height abovethe agitator body-and impart to the surface covering, in theoperation ofthe ma- Vchine, e. positive beating action( Theirheight is 55 notaifectedby wear and they extend `throughout their lifetosubstantiallythesameradial distance beyond the normal surface of the agitator bodyI3. s

To co-operate with the positive beating elements 2|, 2| brushes Il', I!are provided which comprise rigid backs Il, Il in which are mountedbrush bristles, il. Itis desirable that the bristles v24 extend abovethe normal surface of the agitator body to aheight whichissubstan equalto the height of-the beater elements Il il. It is also desirable,however, that the bristle length be suflciently great thatlreasonableelurev and -bendingispossibles1loinlurethisflexibllityitAisnecessarytolnou'ntthexlgidlmck'ofthebrush below the normal surface ofthe agitator body. l'hisisdonelnopenbottomseats2l.2l. The

sides of these seats are formed by foldinginwardlythewallofthebodyiladi'acentthereto. Theendsareformedtoreceiveandseattheendsof thebrushbackil.Theinneror'pulleyendof eachseatisprovidedbyaninsertedstampingorendmemberwhichissuitablysecuredinplace asby welding'itssideltotheelongated sides of the seat. lach endmember comprises an inwardlyextendingbottomshoulderorledge ILa second shoulder orlsdgepositionedthsrea'bove andoflesserandlong'itudinallength.anuppershculderlt; Ablockotresilientmaterialsuchasrubberiscarriedbytheendmembenthe shoulder Il extending theiethlolllh. V,

Theiterendofeachseatllisform'edby'an inwardlyextending shoulder Ilformed on a metallicplatellcarriedbytheinnersideoftheend cup |1.Shoulder il is positioned radially outside of shoulder 21 at theopposite end of the" der shoulder 2l, At the opposite end of the brushshoulder E rests upon the supporting shoulderIl,therelationbetweenshoulders 21 andnbeing suchthat the brushisparallel to the longitudinal axis of the agitata.

v Referring to Figure 3 in particular it is. seen that the brush hasbeen reversed in its seat and shoulder D now rests upon outer shoulder3l. As shoulderD is lower on the brush back than shoulder E it is clearthat the brush at that end of the s back extends further beyond thesurface of the agitator-than before. As the shoulder D is lower on thebrush back than shoulder E it is clear that the brush bristles at theouter end of the agitator extend beyond their first position relative tothe l0 agitator surface a distance which is equal tothe diiference inheight between the shoulder D and' the shoulder E. At the inner end ofthe brush it is seen that the lowest shoulder C is now supported by thesupporting shoulder lll and the end 15 of the brush back underlies theshoulder 2l. As

'shoulder C is lower than shoulder'D on the brush back 'by exactly thesame distance that shoulder D is lower than shoulder E it is apparentthat theinnerendofthebrushbristleshasbeenraisedo abovetheagitatorsurfaeetoadistance equalto that found at the outer end.Thebrushisthereforeinitshighorworn position.

To secure the brush withinits seat in either of its two positions ascrew Il is provided at the 25 outer end of each brush seat which isthreaded into the agitator body thickened at that point byaguardmember!! whichisformed integrally thereon. Ateachendofthebrushbackisformedanoutwardly anddownwardly inclined30recessedshoulderl'which.whenthebrushbackispositionedintheseat.partiallyunderliesthe endofthescrew.Thesurfaceofeachshmilder Pisinclinedsothatasthe screw advancesdownwardlyin the agitator into contact withthe face 85l'the'brushbackwillbeforcedbyacamactioninwardlyandtowardthecenteroftheagitator' body. The opposite end of thebrush back is forced into contact with the resilient rubber padattheinnerendofthessatwhichresistinglyso holds the brushagainstthescrewandinplace.

With the brushpositioned inits low position itisseenthattheinnerendofthebrushbackcontacts thepadubetweentheshoulder l1andthe shoulder. Withthebackinits upperorwornssposition,asshowninllgure3,itisseenthatthe brushbackcontactsthepadbothaboveandbelow the shoulder Il. the brush backabovethe shouldernbeingprovidedwitharecessedporticn indicatedbythereference character Il which accommodates theinwardlyextendingshoulderil. Toremovethebrushfromitsseatitisonlynecessarytounscrewthescrewllsothatthe brush backcanbemovedlongitudinally outward sothsttheinnerendthereofisdisengagedfromo underan overlying shoulder. With the brush in the low or new position thisoverlying shoulder istheshoulderll. Withthebrushinthehll'hor .wornposition itis the'shoulderft.

I claim:

l. In a rotary agitator for a suction cleaner. a body, an elongated seatin said body. a brush in cluding a rigid back having bristles therein,said seat overhanging one end of said back, means resiliently urgingsaid backjtoward the opposite ss end of said seat, and a manuallyadjustable screw carried by said body and adaptedto contact said' backat a-point spaced from said endand at an angle to oppose the movement ofsaid brush by. said means and prevent the outward displacement of saidbrush, said screw being adjus to a position to permit the. sliding ofsaid thereunder to permit lth'e disengagement of the opposite endthereof.

2. In a rotary agitator for a suction cleaner, a 76 and extended intosaid seat into contact with a cam surface on said back at the oppositeendthereof'to force said backunder the overhanging portion of said seatand oppose its outward dis placement at said point'of contact.

' 3. In a rotary agitator for a' suctiorr cleaner, a.r body, anelongatedl seat in said body, a brush including a rigid back tvhavingbristles therein, said brush reversibly seating in said seat, said seatbeing formed to overhang said brush at one end, downwardly facingshoulders at different heights on said back adapted to support saidbrush in said seat, said seat being provided withupwardly facingshoulders at spaced points adapted to. cooperate with the shoulders onsaid back, and manually adjustable locking means securing said' back insaid seat and forcing it under said overhnging Portion of said sea.t.

4. In a rotary agitator for a suction cleaner, a body, an elongated seatin said body,a brush including a rigid back having bristles therein,said. brush reversibly seating. 'in said seat, Asaid seat `overhangingsaid brush stone end, inwardly fac- -ing shoulders at diiferentheightson said back at the ends thereof, outwardly facing shoulders ofdifferent heights at the ends of said seat adapted to cooperate withsaid first-'mentioned shoulders to support said back at dierent heightsin the reversed positions, and!l a' manually adjustable locking memberat one end of said seat preventing the displacement of said backoutwardly from said seat and from under the overhanging portion thereof.

5. In a rotary agitator for a suction cleaner, a

l`body, an elongatedseat in said body, abrush includmg a rigid backhaving bristles therein, said back being of vdill'erenteiiective heightsat its opposite-ends, means at onev end of said seat at differentheights adapted to overlie and prevent the outward displacement fromsaid seat of either end of said back, means at different heights in saidseat adapted to support-said back'at its end-s, and a manually rotatablescrew overlying the end of said 'backspaced from said`overlying meansexertinga fox-cesto secure said back in said seat and under saidoverlying means. y V- 6.1In a rotary agitator for a suction cleaner, a

bodyan elongated seat in said body, a brush i y memdinga rigiabackhaving busses therein, said Y' adjustable means carried by Said bodyyand exseat being-formed with longitudinally spaced outwardlysuportingshoulders at dinerent heights rein, sai k being formed withspaced wardly faclngsupporting shoulders aty different heights thereon,said back. being reversi# ble in said seat, different pairs of shoulderscooperating to positionfsaid back inA the reversed` positions,stationary means at one end of said brushto overlie the back and preventits dis-` placement at that-point inelth r positiqn, and

tendedinto said seat into contactwith said back securing said back undersaid stationary means'J and preventing its displacement from said seatat its point of contact therewith, characterized by the fact that saidmanually adjustable means are.

movable to a position to permit Asaid back to move from under saidstationary means. 1 g ,7, Ina rotary agitator for a suction cleaner, abody, an elongated seat in said body, a brush including a rigid backhaving bristles therein, said seat being formed with spaced outwardly.facing thereon, saidback being reversible in said seat,

different pairs of yshoulders cooperating to position said back in thereversed positions, stationary means at one end, of said brush tooverlie the back and prevent its displacement at that point in eitherposition, and adjustable means carried by said .body and extended intosaid seat into contact with said back securing said back under saidstationary means and preventing its displacement from said seat at itspoint of contact therewith, characterized by the fact that said manuallyadjustable means comprises a screw positioned at the end of said backwhich is adjustable to a position out of contact with said back therebypermitting said back to be moved to disengage it from under said sts'.-`tionary means.

8. In a rotary agitator for a suction cleaner, abody, an elongated seatin said body, a brush including a rigid baci: having bristlesy therein,outwardly facing supporting shoulders at the opposite ends of saidseatatl diderent heights therein, 25

inwardly facing supporting shoulders at the. opposite ends of said lbackseparated in height thereon by -a distance equal to .that separating theshoulders on said seat, a second shoulder at one end of said brushseparated in height from 30 4said first-mentioned shoulder vat that endby V shoulders extending farther into said seat than the other,vertically'and longitudinally spacedy shouldersat one end of said back,a shoulder at the opposite end of said back having a height 'midwaybetween said shoulders at the one end of said back, the shoulderson saidback being arranged to contact selectively the shoulders on. said seat,characterized by the fact that the upper shoulder omsaid back supportsone end thereof in one position when opposite .the short seat shoulderwhile the lower shoulder supports the same end in the reversed positionwhen opposite the long`seat shoulder, means being provided to preventthe outward displacement of said back '55 from said seat in bothpositions. 10.A`removable brushl element for a suction cleaner agitatorcomprising a rigid back having bristles therein, said back beingprdvided with a downwardlyfacing supporting shoulder at one end, adownwardly facing supporting shoulder on the opposite end of said backat a-higherl level thereon, avtliird downwardly facing shoulder on 1said baclf'positioned between ,the tw`o ilrst-mentioned shoulders atalower level than said tlrst- '65 mentionedshoulder, characterized bythe fact that the' level of said first-mentioned shoulderis midwaybetween the levels of the remaining shoulders.

11. In a rotary agixtor for a suction cleaner, 70

a body, anl elonga seat in said body, a brush including-'a rigidl backhaving bristles therein, brush-positioning means vertically Aandlongitudinally spaced on said back, brush-'posip tioning meansvertically and longitudinally 5 4 t 9,015,171 l l spaced in seid seat,ssidbrushbeinz reversiblyavez-binstimeoppositeemiotloidiasrhssidstspositioned in seid seat,ssidbrush-positioninztionsry means end seid manuell! Overlble remeonsselectively cooperatinzto position seid tnetoble memberooopentinl'toprevent disbnuhstdiiierentheightsinsoidbodyinthere,plooementotsddbnlhtmmsoidseotondto versed positions, characterized inthat-stationery, hold said bmah-positionim 'moons on said bock .6memsoverlieoneendotssidbrushbackinssid\ondonsddleotineooperlver;lsitionshipseat. e. manually operable retxi'actable member BARR Wm.

